Does stress cause cancer? Mayo Clinic psychologist Shawna Ehlers, Ph.D., L.P., says no. But it's still important to manage the stresses that can come along with a cancer diagnosis.
Hear what Dr. Ehlers tells her patients about stress and cancer — and how she recommends managing that stress.
We asked a Mayo Clinic expert: What do you tell patients about stress and cancer?
Shawna L. Ehlers, Ph.D., L.P., Cancer Stress Management Program: One of the biggest concerns that people often come to my office with is the belief or worry that stress has caused their cancer. And if only they wouldn't have taken that stressful job, or they would have left that stressful marriage, that they wouldn't have cancer.
And that's absolutely not true. Stress did not cause your cancer. Stress doesn't cause changes in the cells that lead to cancer.
Yet stress is important to be managed. Because if you manage stress well, the treatment is going to be easier and your body is going to be more rested and better able to heal.
Things that can be helpful with that are simple relaxation skill exercises.
Diaphragmatic breathing, also called belly breathing is a really easy one. Progressive muscle relaxation is really effective for a lot of people. And yoga is a nice blend of some of those relaxation skills and physical activity. And physical activity is a great way to manage stress as well.
It is completely normal to be stressed, anxious, sad. This is a normal part of cancer. It's even expected.
One of the most important things is finding a balance between acknowledging and validating those real emotions and living your life fully. So you're spending some time processing the emotions, talking about them. But you're spending time doing the things that you love, and that bring you joy, despite cancer.
Dr. Ehlers has dedicated her career to studying cancer and emotional health.
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